We demand drastic exemplary punishment of DC Cachar within 5 days, GS of Cachar College Union writes to Chief Secretary

Aug 23: The Assam Direct Recruitment Commission has been entrusted the responsibility of conducting examinations for recruitment of Grade III & IV. The 1st phase of the exams were held on 21 August. The next phase will be held on 28 August, whereas the final phase will take place on 11 September.

It needs mention here that the District Administration Cachar during the 1st day of the examination (21 August) detained and later arrested Dr Siddhartha Shankar Nath, Principal of Cachar College, Silchar on charges of negligence and misbehaviour. He was later on released on bail at late night on Sunday and was also asked to appear again on 25 August. It was further alleged that Assistant Centre-in-charge of Cachar College, Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das was ‘manhandled and physically assaulted’ by the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar.

It is in this context that the students of Cachar College, Silchar started a protest demonstration by locking the main gate of the college thereby debarring the teachers to enter. Initially, the agitating students identified them as members of ABVP. But later on during the day, ABVP released an official statement wherein it stated, “The student mobilisation & movement that is going to held today is not done by ABVP or Karyakartas. Anyone who think of themselves as responsible karyakartas shall not take part in any kind of student mobilisation.”

Meanwhile, the student leaders of Cachar College raised slogans against Deputy Commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha. They demanded that the DC should personally come and seek apology or else they will not allow to conduct the SLRC Grade III exams in Cachar College on 28 August. Later on, the students submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary of the state through the Circle Officer, Silchar.

The memorandum signed by Bidwattan Dhar Choudhury, General Secretary of Cachar College Students’ Union addressed to the Chief Secretary stated, “Prof. SS Nath, Principal of Cachar College was illegally detained and debarred to perform the duty of Centre-in- charge of SLRC Exam on 21 August…. Dr Swadesh Ranjan Das, Asstt Centre-in- Charge went to receive the Exam question papers from the strong room, where he was physically assaulted, insulted by the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar in front of other staff.”

They further wrote, “This attitude of the DC Cachar is not acceptable to the student community, which is quite illegal.” In this backdrop, they wrote, “We demand drastic and exemplary punishment of the DC Cachar within 5 day, otherwise we will start democratic students agitation for the fulfillment of our demand.”